Why some IRS interview transcripts are not being released

WASHINGTON, DC (FOX19) -

One of the
main reasons FOX19 took the trip to Washington D.C. was to view Cincinnati
worker IRS transcripts firsthand and see what workers said in their interviews
with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

While FOX19
was able to look over more than 50 pages of two interviews, there are still
hundreds of pages not being released.

When
reporters want information from a government agency typically a simple public
information request is made and there is a required timeframe to respond. Laws
dubbed ‘sunshine laws' lay out what reporters can and cannot have access to.

The House
committees are not governed by those same laws, however. It is generally up to
the committee chairman what is released.

While FOX19
was allowed to look at some transcripts and answered questions, thus far the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has not released much.

"There may
be a time when it's appropriate to do that, but I do think it's important that
you not let everyone understand the line of questioning you're going through
and it's been the practice of the committee not to release that,"
Representative Jim Jordan (R)-Ohio told FOX19.

Over and
over in during FOX19's visit with republic committee members, they pointed to
the committee's investigation as justification for not releasing the full
transcripts.

"The thing
that you have to understand is that even a high school principal will tell you
that when you're doing an investigation the first thing you do is separate the
parties and you get their stories," Michael Turner (R)-Ohio said. "Because from
separating he parties you get the truth."

The pressure
to release its not just coming from the media, republican chairman Darrell Issa
has also been getting pressure from across the aisle.

"There's
nothing in those transcripts that concerned me in any way," Democratic ranking
member Elijah Cummings said. "I want them to be released."

Cumming says
he wants to maintain the integrity of the investigation, but also give
Americans the full story by sharing the transcripts

He
criticized the chairman for releasing cherry picked portions of the
interviews, but he also released pieces so in a commitment to balanced
news FOX19 asked why.

"The only
reason why I presented the excerpts that I did was because I thought the cherry
picking that happened earlier by Mr. Issa did not provide us with a clear
picture," Cummings explained.

Senator Rob
Portman also shared his desire to see the documents released.

"I don't
know what their reasons are, but I think all of us should be able to get access
to those transcripts," he said.

Representative
Jim Jordan has co-signed both of the committee requests for the IRS to make
workers available for interviews. The latest request includes eight interviews
which are in the process of being scheduled and the possibility for nine more
workers to be interviewed who are currently requested to be on standby as
needed.